The PGA Tour has engaged in “productive” discussions regarding the potential “reunification” of golf, involving LIV Golf chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan and former United States president Donald Trump at the White House.
These discussions have been in progress since the PGA Tour and DP World Tour announced a surprising merger with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund [PIF], which finances LIV Golf, in June 2023.
PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan and player director Adam Scott, who met with Trump earlier this month, were accompanied by Al-Rumayyan and 15-time major champion Tiger Woods during their meeting in Washington DC on Thursday.
“We have just wrapped up a collaborative working session at the White House with President Trump and his excellency Yasir Al-Rumayyan,” a statement from Monahan, Scott, and PGA player director Woods stated.
“Thanks to President Trump’s leadership, we have begun discussions on the reunification of golf. We are dedicated to proceeding as swiftly as possible and will provide further details as necessary.
“Our shared passion for the game emphasizes the importance of reunification. Above all, we want to see the best players in the world competing together more frequently, and we are committed to making that a reality for our fans.”
Woods mentioned during last week’s Genesis Invitational that he anticipated the rift in the men’s game would “heal swiftly” with Trump’s involvement, given that his golf resorts have hosted LIV events.
Four-time major champion Rory McIlroy expressed earlier in February that he believed Trump was “aligned with the PGA Tour” in its ongoing dispute with LIV.
In another perspective, former Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley conveyed optimism that an agreement between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf might be reached before the Masters in April.
The highly lucrative LIV Golf circuit was introduced in 2022, disrupting men’s professional golf by attracting prominent players such as Jon Rahm, Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau, Cameron Smith, and Brooks Koepka.
The unexpected announcement in June 2023 of a merger intended to combine the commercial operations and rights of the PGA Tour and LIV Golf put an end to ongoing lawsuits between the tours.
An initial deadline of December 31, 2023, to finalize negotiations was missed; however, a new extension has been established.
LIV Golf is financed by the PIF, an organization overseen by the Saudi crown prince, which is also the majority owner of Premier League football club Newcastle United.
